Summer Bucket List

When you think of summer break, do you think of hot days enjoying ice cream, water fun and camping? The summer can offer a break from the school routine, laid back transitions and lots of outdoor fun to be had.  Sometimes, summer break doesn't feel like a break for foster families.The summer dynamics in a foster home can be loaded with emotions, disregulated children, too much or not enough to do. Planning some DIY summertime fun is a great way YOU can take something off your foster families to do list this summer! Check out our Bucket List of 8 DIY Summer Kits. Choose one to make yourself or rally the family’s support team to make one each week!

DIY Summer Kit Bucket List

• Week 1. DIY Reading Kit. Grab local library summer reading program materials, dollar store canvas bags, book marks, calendars and stickers.

• Week 2. DIY Picnic Kit. Pack a basket or bag for the park or backyard full of sandwich staples, picnic blanket, lemonade and cookies. Bubbles would be a nice extra!

• Week 3. DIY Root Beer Float Kit.  Gather liters of root beer, vanilla ice cream,  whipped cream, sprinkles, disposable cups and silly straws.​​

• Week 4. DIY Crafts Kit. Swing by the local craft store and fill a bag with ready to assemble summer crafts. Throw in any extras that might be needed like glue sticks or washable markers.

• Week 5. DIY Pool Bag. Fill a pool bag with towels, sunscreen,foam pool noodles and dive toys. Extras might include fruit snacks, water bottles and a family pool pass.

• Week 6. DIY S’mores kit. Graham crackers, jumbo marshmallows, chocolate bars, paper plates, wire hanger skewers and lots of wipes for sticky hands and faces.

• Week 7. DIY Water Fun Kit. Water balloons, a slip n slide or wading pool, squirt toys, and bubbles.

• Week 8. DIY Movie Night Kit. Popcorn, candy or fruit snacks, soda pop or juice, dollar store popcorn buckets and a list of your five favorite family movies.

Whether you drop a kit off once or twice this summer, or cover all eight weeks, your thoughtful planning will provide fun times that become some of the  family’s summer highlights!

Ways you can pray for your foster family this summer-

• Pray for God's guidance and discernment to know whether individual children need structured or relaxed transitions and routines, and the resources to plan and schedule accordingly. 
• Pray the  summer break will provide some breaks for tired parents.
• Pray that parents and children revel in the wonders of summer, through little joys and lots of laughter.
• Pray for memory banks to be filled up with positive and loving experiences the whole family will look back on and be reminded of the hope found in our heavenly Father.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13